Viability of germinating store bought blueberries?

Viability of germinating store bought blueberries?

Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:50 am

Hi all, I bought a small container of blueberries from the super market only to find out that they were spoiled and no good. Would it be viable to save the seeds and attempt to germinate them?I live in cold, cold Vermont. We have wild blueberry bushes around here but none of them around my home produce fruit anymore.

Re: Viability of germinating store bought blueberries?

Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:40 am

Sure. They won't grow true - that is, they will not have the same characteristics as the parent plant, since blueberries are usually clones. However, that doesn't mean they'll be bad. Every plant will probably be a little different.

Put your spoiled berries in the freezer for about three months. They need that time in the freezer to break dormancy. Then, thaw them, extract the seeds, and plant.

Re: Viability of germinating store bought blueberries?

Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:13 am

Well there is a good chance that those are southern highbush blueberries which will NOT grow up by you. Furthermore it will be years before the plant will produce a meager harvest at best. I recommend just buying a plant in the spring. They are cheap and you can get some that you know will do well in your area.